World Cup 2006 ... Last 8

So far so good, no major upsets, all going as planned ... may sound like a kelong plot for all the big shots going through to the last 8.

Germany
New and revitalize squad under klinsmann, clear homeground advantages in every match, they look like having a chance shoot or score everytime they move forward !

Lahm and Friedrich looks great moving as wing back ... esp Lahm, even score a brilliant curler in the first match.

Klose and Podolski .... what can I say ? they tear sweden apart ( but I think sweden sucks )

Scheider, Schweinsteiger and Frings playing well too !

How can I leave out Ballack ? Shooting machine, no goals yet, sooner or later he will thump in one ..........

Argentina
Looks formidable against the "self let go" serbians, but reverts back to normal when facing holland and mexico ....

Riquelme, the key in their line up to unlock opposition defence, if somehow he dun feel like playing or is been tamed, other players needs to step up in quickie fashion ...

Crespo, current top scorer, playing his last world cup ... Saviola ... Maxi ... Cambiasso ... are playing their part but not outstanding so far ...

How to forget ? Wonderkid Messi, Tevez, Aimar ... etc are on the bench ...

Another gem of a goal to break germany ?

England
The kid who is expected to shine ... was injured ... and quite bad ... but managed to recover fast enough for the last group match.

He performs fairly against Ecuador ... glimpse of brilliance twice ... but most tamed ...

Lampard who score at ease with Chelsea, obviously is the shout of "kelong", shoots 21 times, 9 on target, 0 goals ... Hmmmmm

Lennon, the speedy road runner, only appear briefly .... could have use him more

Rest of the team not even on mention list ... sucks

But then ... Beckham who score the winner against Para and Ecuador, cross for Crouch to score against Trini ... much more was expected from him ...

Portugal
Not much change for the squad from last Euro and World Cup ... except Pauleta this round did score ...

Ronaldo as usual, full of tricks up his sleeves ... could do well in a circus too when he runs dry ...

Miguel, Valencia player looks good at right back ... and going forward ...

Figo at his last world cup, still has some touches to create havoc

Key man, Deco who somehow thinks that Portugal can advance to the semis without him, twice "yellow carded" himself

Italy
With the whole world waiting to see Juventus get stripped of 2 seria A titles and banished to Seria C ... Milan, Fiorentina and others are waiting for their fate too ... Italy started well as compared to previous Euros and World Cups ..

Managed to get past Ghana, just I would say ... then "self let go" against Bush's team ... not to mention De Rossi's WWE elbow ... perform well against Czceh to bring them to last 16

Only the defence worth mention, Nesta and company are doing good ... Toni and Gilardino had their limited chances ...

Ukraine
It will take something special for "Shevchenko" to proceed further ... was torn apart by Spain, somehow manage to thrash Saudis and managed to win Tunisia

Brazil
Slow and steady, they are getting the tempo of each game, manged to get past Ghana with the Ghanians shooting blanks in all their forward attackings ...

With players so technically crafted in their moves, tricks, passes ... etc. Ronaldo is scoring ... Roanldino is furious why the ball wasnt cut back to him during the final minutes of the Ghana match ... ( Oh ... he haven score yet )

Defence wise will be an area to look at ... as to win will be to score more than them !

France
Zidane led France almost repeated 2002 feat ... maybe just a plot to increase the excitement, tension and drama

Fired blanks against the swiss, late equalizer by Mr Park setup a "die die die die" must win by 3 goals match against Togo ...

Just edge out Spain in the last 16 ... with Zidane back against Brazil, is it a advantage or disadvantage ?